• Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
ManoReporters.com
ADVERTISEMENT
  • Home
  • News
    • All
    • Business and Economy
    • Politics
    • Health
    • Sci-Tech
    • Regional
    • Culture
    How a GAVI funded project has helped boost vaccine coverage across Sierra Leone (VIDEO)

    How a GAVI funded project has helped boost vaccine coverage across Sierra Leone (VIDEO)

    Chief Justice Komba Kamanda. Image, Judiciary of Sierra Leone

    Sierra Leone: Accountability group worried over erosion of confidence in judicial system

    Dr Yap Boum, Deputy Head of the Africa CDC's IMST. Image, Screengrab, Kemo Cham, manoReporters

    Africa CDC ramps up support for Sierra Leone’s Mpox response

    Participants at the opening ceremony of a four-day boot camp in Freetown, on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. Image, Kemo Cham, ManoReporters.

    CAF-SL and partners host Boot Camp for 250 young people

    Africa CDC DG Dr Jean Kaseye. may 15, 2025.

    Africa CDC to deploy experts to boost Sierra Leone’s Mpox response

    Dr Ngashi Ngongo, Head of the Incident Management Support Team (IMST) at Africa CDC said that funding was the main issue with Sierra Leone’s response and that the system is weak. Image, screengrab, Kemo Cham, ManoReporters.

    Africa CDC assessment finds Sierra Leone’s Mpox response weak

    Trending Tags

  • Special Reports
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • True or False
  • Interview
  • ManoReporters TV
  • Tender and Job
  • Election 2023
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • All
    • Business and Economy
    • Politics
    • Health
    • Sci-Tech
    • Regional
    • Culture
    How a GAVI funded project has helped boost vaccine coverage across Sierra Leone (VIDEO)

    How a GAVI funded project has helped boost vaccine coverage across Sierra Leone (VIDEO)

    Chief Justice Komba Kamanda. Image, Judiciary of Sierra Leone

    Sierra Leone: Accountability group worried over erosion of confidence in judicial system

    Dr Yap Boum, Deputy Head of the Africa CDC's IMST. Image, Screengrab, Kemo Cham, manoReporters

    Africa CDC ramps up support for Sierra Leone’s Mpox response

    Participants at the opening ceremony of a four-day boot camp in Freetown, on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. Image, Kemo Cham, ManoReporters.

    CAF-SL and partners host Boot Camp for 250 young people

    Africa CDC DG Dr Jean Kaseye. may 15, 2025.

    Africa CDC to deploy experts to boost Sierra Leone’s Mpox response

    Dr Ngashi Ngongo, Head of the Incident Management Support Team (IMST) at Africa CDC said that funding was the main issue with Sierra Leone’s response and that the system is weak. Image, screengrab, Kemo Cham, ManoReporters.

    Africa CDC assessment finds Sierra Leone’s Mpox response weak

    Trending Tags

  • Special Reports
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • True or False
  • Interview
  • ManoReporters TV
  • Tender and Job
  • Election 2023
No Result
View All Result
ManoReporters.com
No Result
View All Result

Sierra Leone is “shining example of democracy” – US Congressman Meeks

Kemo Cham by Kemo Cham
February 21, 2022
in News, Politics, Regional
0
Sierra Leone is “shining example of democracy” – US Congressman Meeks

Congressman Meeks speaks at State Lodge in Freetown, Sierra Leone after his coronation as Paramount Chief. Image, State House.

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

United States Congressman Gregory W. Meeks has hailed Sierra Leone’s democratic trajectory, describing the country as a “shining example” on the continent.

ADVERTISEMENT

Meeks, who is Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, praised the leadership of the Bio administration for the direction it is leading the country.

The US lawmaker was speaking at a ceremony organized to coronate him as honorary Paramount Chief of Sierra Leone, according to a video report released by the presidency on Monday.

Meeks is at the head a seven-man delegation of the US House Committee which is on a four-nation Africa tour, including Liberia, Tanzania and Cote d’Ivoire. The delegation include Representatives Ami Bera, Ilhan Omar, Joyce Beatty, G.K. Butterfield, Brenda Lawrence, and Troy Carter.

Sierra Leone was the first stop of the delegation which arrived in Freetown on Saturday night.

During their two-day stay in the country, the delegation held several meetings with government officials, including President Julius Maada Bio and members of his cabinet, as well as opposition political parties and civil society organizations, according to media advisories issued by both the Sierra Leone government and the US House Foreign Affairs Committee in Washington DC.

Part of their itinerary was a visit to Bunce Island, a former slave trading post from where tens of thousands of Africans were shipped to the Americas to work on plantations as slaves.

Meeks, a Democratic lawmaker from New York, is one of many Americans who have traced their ancestry to Sierra Leone through DNA test. He traced his route to the Mende ethnic group, who are predominantly in the southern region of Sierra Leone.

Congressman Meeks greets PC Sheku Fasuluku Sonsiama, Chairman of the Council of Paramount Chiefs of Sierra Leone as President Bio looks on. Image, State House

In recognition of this, the US lawmaker was crowned a honorary Paramount Chief of Sogbini Chiefdom in the southern Bonthe District, the same chiefdom President Bio’s father once presided over as Paramount Chief. Congressman Meeks was given the traditional name of PC Wonni Bio, the same name as the president’s late father.

The citation preceding his crowning, read by Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Tamba Lamina, hailed the Congressman as having distinguished himself with “exceptional love” for humanity. Its notes that as a member of the Black Congressional Caucus, Meeks had always embraced justice and equality for all, irrespective of race, origin or background.

PC Sheku Fasuluku Sonsiama, Chairman of the Council of Paramount Chiefs in Sierra Leone, presided over the traditional ceremony held at State Lodge, the official resident of the Sierra Leone president in Freetown. PC Sonsiama hailed Meek’s installation as Paramount Chief and one of their own.

Congressman Meeks said at the ceremony that he was proud to be home.

“Barack Obama may have Kenya, but I have Sierra Leone,” he said, to a rousing applause. He was referring to the former US president whose father hailed from Kenya.

The announcement of the visit by the US Congressional delegation occasioned speculations about its exact motive, with critics of the Bio administration, especially opposition supporters, saying it was meant to rein in the administration amidst growing concern over alleged human rights violations and erosion of civil liberties.

The public statement of Congressman Meeks, who is the head of the delegation, is however likely to disappoint many.

“When I look at you out there today and I think about the accomplishments of this great government and I think about where this country is headed, this country, my ancestral home, when I look at the progress against all odds, a shining example of democracy, right here in Sierra Leone…This nation stands for good, stands for freedom, and stands for justice. And that you are going to make tomorrow better…,” he said.

The coronation ceremony was graced by top government officials, among them Vice President Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh and United States embassy officials.

Congressman Meeks, accompanied by Minister of Local Government Tamba Lamina, is carried on a hammock as part of the coronation ceremony as Paramount Chief in Freetown. Image, State House

President Bio hailed Congressman Meeks and his delegation for making the decision to visit “home.”

“This is home for us and this is home for you. And this will always be home away from home,” the President said.

Bio recounted his government’s stride in ensuring democracy and human rights, noting that Sierra Leone currently ranks as fourth most peaceful country in Africa and that it’s one of the “most tolerant” nations in the world.

“Welcome to our democracy, where we have abolished the death penalty, permanently removed all criminal libel laws, clamped down on corruption, made tremendous progress in ruling justly, robustly fighting all forms of sexual and gender violence, taking progressive steps to assure gender empowerment and women’s equality, expanded access to justice and promoted and protected people’s right, invested in human capital development as a national priority,” the president stated.

First Lady Fatima Bio, in a brief statement assured the Congressional delegation of the Sierra Leone government’s commitment to the promotion of democratic values and women’s empower.

The delegated was scheduled to arrive in Monrovia on Monday, from where it will head to Dar e Salem in Tanzania, before coming back to West Africa for meetings with Ivorian authorities.

Tags: Sierra LeoneUnited StatesCongressional Delegation
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Sierra Rutile: Operations continue despite fire incident – company

Next Post

Social dialogue critical element in addressing challenges – ECOWAS Speaker

Kemo Cham

Kemo Cham

Next Post
Social dialogue critical element in addressing challenges – ECOWAS Speaker

Social dialogue critical element in addressing challenges – ECOWAS Speaker

Stay connected

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
State security forces man a checkpoint at an intersecition between State House and Siaka Steven Street in Freteown. Photo credit, Ishmail Kindama Dumbuya

Breaking: Sierra Leone gov’t says it ‘rebuffed’ attempted break into armory

November 26, 2023
Sarah Van Horne, Public Affairs Officer, US Embassy in Freetown. Photo credit, Courtesy.

Sierra Leone: US considering further actions after visa ban – Embassy spokeswoman

September 1, 2023
Anthrax Outbreak: Sierra Leone records first human cases

Anthrax Outbreak: Sierra Leone records first human cases

May 22, 2022
Former Guinea junta leader Moussa Dadis Camara and the two other close allies of his who are thought to have escaped from prison in Conakry on Saturday, November 4. Image by Guinea News.

Breaking! Guinea: Heavy gunfire reported in Kaloum, around central prison

November 4, 2023
Diabetes: The “Ticking Time Bomb” for Africa! Are we sitting on it?

Diabetes: The “Ticking Time Bomb” for Africa! Are we sitting on it?

0
Sierra Leonean on trial for war crimes in Liberia released

Sierra Leonean on trial for war crimes in Liberia released

0
Sierra Leone, France seek tighter cooperation

Sierra Leone, France seek tighter cooperation

0
Wellington Fire Disaster: Victims Benefit From Fullah Progressive Union Largesse

Wellington Fire Disaster: Victims Benefit From Fullah Progressive Union Largesse

0
How a GAVI funded project has helped boost vaccine coverage across Sierra Leone (VIDEO)

How a GAVI funded project has helped boost vaccine coverage across Sierra Leone (VIDEO)

May 25, 2025
Chief Justice Komba Kamanda. Image, Judiciary of Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone: Accountability group worried over erosion of confidence in judicial system

May 25, 2025
Dr Yap Boum, Deputy Head of the Africa CDC's IMST. Image, Screengrab, Kemo Cham, manoReporters

Africa CDC ramps up support for Sierra Leone’s Mpox response

May 23, 2025
Participants at the opening ceremony of a four-day boot camp in Freetown, on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. Image, Kemo Cham, ManoReporters.

CAF-SL and partners host Boot Camp for 250 young people

May 16, 2025

Recent News

How a GAVI funded project has helped boost vaccine coverage across Sierra Leone (VIDEO)

How a GAVI funded project has helped boost vaccine coverage across Sierra Leone (VIDEO)

May 25, 2025
Chief Justice Komba Kamanda. Image, Judiciary of Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone: Accountability group worried over erosion of confidence in judicial system

May 25, 2025
Dr Yap Boum, Deputy Head of the Africa CDC's IMST. Image, Screengrab, Kemo Cham, manoReporters

Africa CDC ramps up support for Sierra Leone’s Mpox response

May 23, 2025
Participants at the opening ceremony of a four-day boot camp in Freetown, on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. Image, Kemo Cham, ManoReporters.

CAF-SL and partners host Boot Camp for 250 young people

May 16, 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
Contact

info@manoreporters.com | Freetown, Sierra Leone

Contact

info@manoreporters.com | Freetown, Sierra Leone

© 2022 Powered by Manocommunication.com
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Business and Economy
    • Politics
    • Health
    • Sci-Tech
      • Data
    • Regional
    • Culture
  • Special Reports
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • True or False
  • Interview
  • ManoReporters TV
  • Tender and Job

© 2022 Powered by Manocommunication.com